Why Fast?

After Jesus was baptized, He was "led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And He went without food for forty days and forty nights..." (Mt. 4:1)

I believe fasting is necessary for face to face combat with the enemy.

There are two places in Scripture, one in Matthew and the other in Mark, where it says, "this kind comes only by prayer and fasting" (my paraphrase). In both passages, Jesus has just come down from the mountain of transfiguration (an intimate time of communion with God; face to face; a fixed focus on His heavenly Father - all of which are the purpose of seasons of fasting). In Matthew, a man comes to Jesus and asks Him to have mercy on his son, for he has epilepsy and suffers terribly. Then the man says he brought his son to the disciples, but they were unable to cure him. Jesus scolds the "unbelieving generation" and calls for the boy. He then rebukes the "demon" and "it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly." Later the disciples asked Him privately why they couldn't drive it out and Jesus said, "because of your little faith...for nothing is impossible to you...BUT this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

In Mark, the situation is very similiar. A father brings his son to Jesus because he has an evil spirit and Scripture says he couldn't speak. Again, the father says he brought him to the disciples to drive it out, but they were not able to do it. Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit and commands it to come out of the boy and the boy was delivered. Again, the disciples asked Him privately why they were not able to drive it out. And Jesus replied, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting."

In both cases, the problem was demonic (Jesus rebuked the demon or the evil spirit) even though it evidenced itself through a physical ailment (disability). Who did the enemy target? The sons...the children...the next generation. Jesus performed the miracle (He was a man of prayer and fasting), but rebuked the disciples because they should have been able to do it.

I heard a pastor on a program Tuesday night as the Lord has so graciously put things before me this week to teach and guide me to a greater understanding of His plan of fasting and prayer. This pastor said if there is a "this kind" there has to be a "that kind." Basically meaning there are some battles that can be won through prayer alone, there are others that require more. In other words, the greater the opponent the more strength needed. Or you could say, the greater the desire to win the more you train.

Take that to the football field. If you know me you know I'm not a big sports fan, unless someone's on the field by the name of Ben, Tyler or Caleb! But, I do know that LSU won the National Championship last Monday night against Ohio. Now, these two teams trained all year and played game after game of the season, but this game was different. This was the National Championship! The two best, toughest, hardest teams to beat were going at it, face to face. What do you think they did from Thanksgiving to last Monday night? Of course, they trained. And I can imagine they trained harder and longer putting more focus and determination into it than ever before. They were facing their toughest opponent AND they REALLY wanted to win!

So, that's it. More intense training...in the Face of the Trainer. He says, be still. Intensify your focus on Me. Do without what your flesh desires long enough to know what I desire. Let that hunger pain remind you to pray for the millions who are starving across the earth. And not just for physical food. Let that headache remind you of those in excruciating pain from the withdrawals of trying to break free from the chains of darkness. Hear their cries. Feel their need. Cry out to Me, so I can heal them.

Is there a "this kind" in your life? In your family? In your church? In your community? In the world? I have so much more to learn, but I do want to learn how to conquer "this kind!" It IS possible. All things are possible with God!

"We are MORE than conquerors through Jesus Christ!"